Re: How many friends have you lost this year because they can't stand that you're a faithful Catholic?

I can't say that I have lost any friends or family, but some relationships have been strained due to our differences over gay marriage issues. Overall, many of my family members are somewhat confused and even dismayed over my husband's decision to become a deacon, and my nephew's decision to become a priest. Who would have thought that being a practicing Catholic would be so difficult in an Irish Catholic family?

__________________Give praise to the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.

Re: How many friends have you lost this year because they can't stand that you're a faithful Catholic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommyof4

Who would have thought that being a practicing Catholic would be so difficult in an Irish Catholic family?

I can sympathize entirely. I come from a similar background, with everyone in my family being cradle Catholics, although most have "graduated" to some degree of cafeteria Catholic. A lot of the hate and negativity we've gotten from my family has been due to their perceptions about our behaviors and beliefs and not due to anything we've actually said or done. Some of the choices we've made (not drinking, etc.) have had nothing to do with our faith, but they make the assumption that they do which causes them to not only get angry at us because of whatever the choice is, but also because they assume it's a "ridiculous" religious thing on our part. However, the things that breed the most animosity are those things that are clearly religious, or things we do that we defend at least partially from a faith-based viewpoint.

__________________"How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many donuts."
--Homer Simpson

Re: How many friends have you lost this year because they can't stand that you're a faithful Catholic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Sims

I can sympathize entirely. I come from a similar background, with everyone in my family being cradle Catholics, although most have "graduated" to some degree of cafeteria Catholic. A lot of the hate and negativity we've gotten from my family has been due to their perceptions about our behaviors and beliefs and not due to anything we've actually said or done. Some of the choices we've made (not drinking, etc.) have had nothing to do with our faith, but they make the assumption that they do which causes them to not only get angry at us because of whatever the choice is, but also because they assume it's a "ridiculous" religious thing on our part. However, the things that breed the most animosity are those things that are clearly religious, or things we do that we defend at least partially from a faith-based viewpoint.

Are you sure we're not in the same family? It sounds a lot like us!

__________________Give praise to the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.

Re: How many friends have you lost this year because they can't stand that you're a faithful Catholic?

I find this thread about an hour after discovering yet another friend has dumped me from Facebook and sends me a curt message about being "unable to see a future in our friendship, online or off." The Chick-Fil-A controversy seemingly a final straw for many. Today she noticed several weeks ago I "checked in" at the restaurant. Oh, boo!

Many of my Pagan/Atheist/Wiccan/GLBT/Unitarian/pro-choice buddies are still around and tolerant of me. Some of my conservative gang left a while back for me being "too liberal." You just can't win.

__________________“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
― Mother Teresa

Re: How many friends have you lost this year because they can't stand that you're a faithful Catholic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurlyMermaid

I find this thread about an hour after discovering yet another friend has dumped me from Facebook and sends me a curt message about being "unable to see a future in our friendship, online or off." The Chick-Fil-A controversy seemingly a final straw for many. Today she noticed several weeks ago I "checked in" at the restaurant. Oh, boo!

Many of my Pagan/Atheist/Wiccan/GLBT/Unitarian/pro-choice buddies are still around and tolerant of me. Some of my conservative gang left a while back for me being "too liberal." You just can't win.

Ain't that the truth.

__________________Pray for Peace and Justice in all the troubled parts of the world, and in families.

Re: How many friends have you lost this year because they can't stand that you're a faithful Catholic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by just came back

I have a friend who was baptized into the church 6 years ago but left and just refuses to come back. Actually told me he was faking it all because he thought it was him. I always remind him he was baptized and there is no faking that. He is just way too caught up in eastern philosophies, Ghandi, and has told me of many occasions of his many lucid dreams and the demons he has encountered. I don't pray for him as much as I should but one, after knowing truth, has to be held accountable for their own actions. I pray someday he comes home.

God willing he will turn full circle back home like I did. You can chase after new age and feel like you have found the holy grail. But it is a sham, human, self-serving, and it tries to self justify. You can chase after the East but you will be mired in a thick, thick syrup of polytheism. You know it is bad when someone can have a religion but be an atheist and so it is with the east. If the people over there can't decide who is the end all be all maker of the heaven and earth they don't have a leg to stand on theologically.

I would tell your friend to think about Christ's suffering. To think about his DEEP love for each of us as an individual. I like to put it this way that even if someone was the only person in the world the Lord would still allow Himself to be nailed to the cross even if that person still rejected Him.